You may have already read quite a good amount of information about tips and tricks on how to learn Spanish (or any other language!) successfully. Practice, immersion, reading… we all have heard about that when it comes to mastering a new language. However, let’s not forget about a very crucial element: finding the right tutor for you. This may vary a lot from person to person, and we can say that it is almost like finding a love partner: you have to find someone who matches your expectation, your ambitions, your needs, your personality, and so on!
In this blog post, we will be discussing some essentials you need to consider when looking for a Spanish tutor online, and how to find it on Lingua Linkup specifically. Having all these things in mind will make everything easier for you and your tutor as well. Both will be clear on which path to follow from the very beginning. Let’s take a look then.
First things first… Why should I look for an online tutor?
A tutoring session is nothing like a traditional in-person language class, where you normally have multiple classmates and, generally, the teacher is the one who speaks the most to explain the class lecture.
A tutoring session should feel more like a personalized lesson where the tutor adapts all the lessons to the student’s individual needs. Ideally, the student usually speaks and gets corrections when required. This is a great advantage compared to traditional language classes at school, where we rarely get corrected when expressing ourselves orally.
You may be thinking: “Well, yeah! It sounds good these tutoring lessons, but I’m sure they must be expensive!”. The good news is that they don’t always have to be very pricey; they sometimes can be even cheaper than attending your local language school for learning Spanish!
Nowadays, we have plenty of options to choose from when looking for an online tutor, adapted to all budgets and all needs. Lingua Linkup is an online platform that helps you (the student) get in contact with an online Spanish tutor, proposing plenty of options to select from.
“Right…But wait! There are so many free resources out there, (especially our free Spanish resources here), why should I look for a private tutor then?”. The truth is that free resources shouldn’t be seen as opposed to having an online tutor, as all these resources can be a good complement to our learning process. The role of a tutor goes way beyond only teaching you verb conjugation, grammar, and vocabulary. When learning a language, there are so many aspects to it, including the cultural side and other nuances that can only be taught by a human being. The reality is that you need to learn the main four (1) Reading, (2) Writing, (3) Listening, (4) Speaking, but you also have to learn Cultural Pop References, Slang, and the Colloquial/informal Language. And our students hire a tutor to help with Listening and Speaking, and then that last part – cultural references and the informal language. This is where you truly master a language to start to become Conversational in Spanish.
Tiny but mighty technical details!
All right! You feel ready. You want to start looking for an online Spanish tutor. Before actually booking a lesson, you may want to consider some technical details to make all things go as smoothly as possible in all your lessons. Yes, we’re talking about: having a stable Internet connection (10 Mbps download/1Mbps upload speeds), making sure your device works well enough, and being in a calm and quiet space to attend your lesson.
We also recommend using headphones with a microphone integrated so that your tutor can hear your voice properly and that you can hear your tutor’s voice as well!
It is very helpful to be familiar with using platforms like Skype or Zoom to make video calls with your tutor. Therefore, you won’t lose any time learning how to use the platform or having your tutor explain things like opening your microphone or your camera.
Choose a place where you have the least number of distractions and noise, and chances are that you will enjoy your lesson much better!
It doesn’t matter whether you are taking classes from your computer or even your cellphone, you can apply all these recommendations in any case. We have some tutors who work on WhatsApp or FaceTime as well.
Defining your goals.
There are many Spanish tutors online, with different backgrounds, personalities, and specialties. This is AMAZING! However, the truth is that not every tutor may be the best for you if you learn how to identify your personal needs and define your goals.
When defining our personal goals, we will have a much clearer mindset, and we can reach our goals easier and more effectively. You can consider a tutor to be a person who can give you all the necessary tools you need to reach your goal.
What is your current level in Spanish? Do you require Spanish for traveling? For job matters? Do you have to practice your listening & speaking skills? Are you looking for a Spanish tutor for your kid? Do you want more structured lessons, or do you just feel like practicing your conversation skills? These are the kind of questions you should ask yourself before starting to look for an online Spanish tutor. You then will be able to select more easily from the large range of options offered to you.
If you take a look at our online platform on Lingua Linkup, you will then realize that you can search for a tutor using multiple filters.
You can filter tutors by age (of the student), meaning that there are tutors who are specialized in teaching toddlers, high school students, all the way to adults. You can also look for a tutor depending on the specific school grade the student is in, for example, sixth-grade Spanish tutors, seventh-grade Spanish tutors, and so on. They will be familiar with the syllabus of that grade and can assist in improving or maintaining good grades in Spanish.
We also have a filter where you can look for a Spanish tutor to communicate better at work, whether you are in a specialized field like healthcare, or you need to interact with Spanish speakers to do business.
Next, if you’re looking for a Spanish tutor with a specific accent or knowledge of a certain country, you can also look for a tutor by selecting the “By country” option. You can choose a tutor from multiple Spanish-speaking countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Spain, Guatemala, and much more!
Finally, if you’re looking to certify your Spanish-speaking ability, we also have tutors who can help you pass the DELE exam. DELE stands for “Diploma oficial de Español como Lengua Extranjera” (Spanish as a foreign language diploma), organized by the Cervantes Institute of Spain. You may be interested in obtaining this diploma if you want to get an official document that can validate your Spanish level, useful when applying for school programs taught in Spanish, or even for job matters. Having a diploma like this can help you validate your Spanish level worldwide.
How does it work an online lesson on Lingua Linkup?
Having online lessons has never been easier thanks to these three simple steps we advise you to follow:
Step 1: Browse available Spanish tutors.
Browser here: https://lingualinkup.com/tutors/spanish-tutors/
You can filter for the tutor using our “Find a Tutor” option on our website. If you need any extra orientation, you can also chat with a real person using the live chat down below on our website. You will be talking to a real person that can help you find the right tutor for you and give you some recommendations that match your needs. You will then be directed to a tutor’s profile to view their video and get to know their personality.
Step 2: Book a free 20-minute discovery call
Before actually starting your online lessons, you have the opportunity to talk to your tutor in a 20- minute video call, where you can discuss your goals and put together a lesson plan from the very beginning.
Smile, don’t be nervous, our tutors are very friendly and happy to help you! Tell your tutor a little bit about yourself, who you are, and what you like, so that he or she can tailor all lessons and activities that fit your personality.
If you have already studied Spanish in the past, chances are that you may already have an idea about your current level of Spanish. There are many different frameworks to measure your level, and this can vary depending on the school where you have studied before or even the country where you started your Spanish language studies. Some programs follow the European Framework of Reference for Languages CEFR, and some others may follow the American Council of Foreign Language Teaching curriculum. So don’t hesitate to talk about the level you’re in with your tutor! If you are not very sure about your level, don’t worry, your tutor may also be able to help you to measure it.
Also, don’t forget to use your Spanish the most you can during your call! It is your opportunity to put everything into practice!
Step 3: Start your lessons!
The last step is about taking action and starting your language journey with your tutor! You may be able to decide about the frequency of your lessons (how many times you want to have lessons with your tutor per week) depending on the availability of both you and your tutor. Have a notebook or notepad ready to take notes during class!
After a few lessons with your tutor, you may want to ask yourself: How much have I learned? Am I enjoying my lessons? How many corrections do I get during class?
Communication is key! So, feel free to talk with your tutor about your thoughts, and see if the lesson plan corresponds to your needs, or if you feel that something should be modified.
Most of the time (if not always), misunderstandings are due to a lack of communication, so always seize the opportunity to express yourself!
Final thoughts.
I would like to finish by saying that learning a new language should be seen as a marathon, not a sprint. It is not about speed, but about endurance.
Speaking to a native speaker can make us feel nervous, and this is totally normal! Just keep in mind that “Ninety percent of success is just showing up”. Step out of your comfort zone and stay focused on your goals! The reward is totally worth it.
We hope this guide will help you to pick a language tutor wisely, and that you enjoy all your online sessions from now on! See you next time!
¡Hasta la vista!
About the Author:
Specializations: Spanish Tutors on Zoom
Bio: Hello, everybody! I was born on an island in Mexico and lived there for about 13 years, and then I moved to Mexico City to attend school. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in Paris, where I lived for almost 4 years. Now, I’m currently living in Guatemala. I’m passionate about cultures and helping people achieve their goals. I have been working as a language teacher for about 4 years now, and I’m a language learner myself too! Looking forward to seeing you in class.
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